We know we should take more of a stand against this annoying practice. After all, when resort fees s

It's 2013, nearly five years since Las Vegas hotels began instituting the dreaded Daily Resort Fees . (Plus, tax!) The grinches who run the hotel ops in town have pretty much beaten us down to the point where unless we stay at a Caesars property ( Update 2.21.13: As of March 1, Caesars will be charging resort fees ) or somewhere in downtown (with the exception loews miami beach hotel of the Plaza), we expect to cough up an additional $15 or more per day.
We know we should take more of a stand against this annoying practice. After all, when resort fees started back in 2008/2009, it was supposedly to make-up for the loss of visitors in the recession and for plummeting room rates. But, looking loews miami beach hotel over some stats from the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority, we see some interesting things.
For 2012 (through October), rates were averaging about $105 a night. The occupancy rate was around 85 percent. Not quite the mid-90s rate of Vegas' halcyon days in the mid-aughts but clearly an improvement from 2009 when the occupancy rate threatened loews miami beach hotel to dip below 80 percent. Also in 2009, room rates were averaging $95 a night. When we stayed at the Excalibur in 2009, they charged a simple $5 resort fee. That later increased to $12.95 by 2010 and then again to $15 this year.
So, in conclusion, room rates are going up, occupancy rates are going up and resort fees are going up? Ugh, we're afraid so. Currently, the top-tier properties along the Strip are all charging around $25 while mid-range hotels loews miami beach hotel go from $15 to $20. We just hope no one decides to bump it to $30! (And, hope we didn't just jinx ourselves.)
So, until someone can get a petition.org thing going for resort fees (we've loews miami beach hotel lost the will to do it, sorry), VegasChatter is here to help you navigate choppy resort fee waters. We will do our best to update the guide throughout the year, but always double-check that reservations page before you click "book" to determine how much your resort fee, per day, will be.
Bill's (Note: The hotel is closing on February 4, 2013. It will reopen in early 2014 with a new look and a new name. Not sure if a new resort fee is planned but let's hope not. Now that all Caesars properties will carry resort fees as or March 1, looks like Bill's will too.)
CIRCUS loews miami beach hotel CIRCUS : $7.95 $8.95 . Includes: Internet, one premium ride at The Adventuredome (down from two last year), chips and salsa at Garden loews miami beach hotel Grill Lounge, two free Midway games, two free drinks at West Casino or Slots A Fun bar (or a $5 credit toward other beverage purchase), two Fitness Room passes valid each day of your stay for up to two people, and free local and 800-number calls up to 30 minutes. Also included is a Resort Passbook with up to $150 worth of savings. Randomest amenity: Still, the chips and salsa.
THE COSMOPOLITAN : $25 . Includes: loews miami beach hotel Internet, unlimited local, toll free and domestic long distance calls, 24-hour fitness center access, and tennis court access. Best Amenity : Tennis courts, we guess.
ENCORE LAS VEGAS : $25 . Includes: Internet, fitness center access, unlimited in-room local and toll-free phone calls. If you are staying in the Tower Suites, you do not have to pay a resort fee. Best amenity: Fitness center as the in-room Internet doesn't even work that well.
EXCALIBUR loews miami beach hotel LAS VEGAS : $15 . Includes: Internet, fitness center access, incoming faxes, daily newspaper, domestic and long-distance calls and two free drinks per stay. Best amenity: The drinks (you're gonna need them.)
FORTUNE loews miami beach hotel : $10 . Includes: WiFi, free breakfast, shuttle service to Strip and McCarran Airport, local calls, TV as well as business center, gym, pool and hot tub usage. Best amenity : Shuttle service. And, the free food. Hopefully, we can take the breakfast on the road with us!
FOUR SEASONS AT MANDALAY BAY : $25. Includes: Internet for multiple devices, wireless internet in the lobby, by the pool and at the Verandah restaurant, in-room coffee and tea and in-room local and toll-free calls and shoeshine service. Best amenity: WiFi by the pool.
GREEN VALLEY RANCH : $24.99 . Includes: wired and wireless Internet, unlimited local and 800 calls, fitness center access, daily local newspaper, shoe shine service and airport loews miami beach hotel shuttle service. loews miami beach hotel Best amenity: The airport loews miami beach hotel shuttle service.
HARD ROCK LAS VEGAS : $22 . Includes: Internet, fitness center access, shuttle service to and from Strip, daily newspaper, notary service, printing of boarding passes and unlimited domestic loews miami beach hotel long distance phone calls. Best amenity: The Strip shuttle service.
HOTEL32 at MONTE CARLO : $25 . Includes: internet, fitness center access, daily newspaper, complimentary copying and faxing, boarding pass printing loews miami beach hotel and free local and 800 phone calls. Best Amenity : Internet.
HOOTERS : $9.95 $14.50 Includes: Internet, fitness center access, two in-room bottles of water and unlimited, unlimited local telephone service and free access telephone connections (1-800 loews miami beach hotel numbers). Randomest amenity: The 1-800 numbers, easily.
MANDALAY BAY : $25. Includes: Internet, fitness center access, unlimited local and toll-free phone calls, boarding pass printing, outgoing faxes and daily newspaper. Randomest amenity: Outgoing faxes.
MANDARIN ORIENTAL : $24. Includes: Internet access for up to five devices, fitness and wellness center access, scheduled yoga or Pilates classes, coffee loews miami beach hotel and tea from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., unlimited in-room local and toll-free calls, a daily newspaper upon request and overnight shoe shines. Best amenity: Tie between multiple device Internet and pilates classes.
MGM GRAND : $25. Includes: Internet, daily USA Today newspaper, cardio room access, boarding pass printing, business center services like notary and faxes, and unlimited local and toll-free calls. Best amenity: Internet.
MONTE CARLO : $20. Includes: loews miami beach hotel Internet, fitness center access, daily newspaper, copying and faxing, boarding loews miami beach hotel pass printing, local and toll free calls, in-room coffee and two bottles of water. Best amenity: The in-room coffee.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK : $18. Includes: Internet in-room and public, fitness loews miami beach hotel center access, unlimited local and 800-number calls, boarding loews miami beach hotel pass printing, notary services, some faxes and daily newspaper. Best amenity: Internet loews miami beach hotel in the public spaces.
PALACE STATION : $14.99 Includes: Internet, fitness center access, unlimited loews miami beach hotel local, domestic long distance and 800 calls, daily local newspaper, gift shop discount, copy and fax services, special daily offers and discounts and airport shuttle service. Randomest amenity: Gift shop discount.
loews miami beach hotel PALAZZO : $20 $25. Includes: Internet, Canyon Ranch fitness center access, unlimited local and toll-free phone calls, a daily newspaper, boarding pass printing, loews miami beach hotel one regular coffee at Caf� Presse and a 2-for-1 well drink, house wine or domestic beer at La Scena, Oculus, Laguna, Fusion or Salute loews miami beach hotel lounges. Best amenity: Canyon Ranch access. Palazzo now gives guests the ability to decline the resort fee at check-in or check-out.
PALMS : $20. Includes: 2-for-1 drinks at any on-site casino bar or the Rojo Lounge; internet, cardio center access (no weight-lifting!), shuttle service to Fashion Show Mall, daily newspaper for pick-up, boarding pass printing, some local and long distance calls, and some faxing. Best amenity: 2-for-1 drinks.
PALMS PLACE : $20. Includes: 2-for-1 drinks at any on-site casino bar or the Rojo Lounge; internet, cardio center access (no weight-lifting!), shuttle service to Fashion Show Mall, daily newspaper for pick-up, boarding pass printing, loews miami beach hotel some local and long distance calls, and some faxing. loews miami beach hotel Best amenity: 2-for-1 drinks.
RED ROCK : $24.99. Includes: Internet, fitness center access, unlimited local and 800 calls, daily local newspaper, shoe shine service and airport shuttle service. Best amenity: loews miami beach hotel Airport shuttle service.
RIVIERA : $15. Includes: internet, fitness center access, some incoming faxes (with restrictions), unlimited local and 800 calls, loews miami beach hotel access to the tennis courts, two Comedy Club tickets, 2-for-1 show tickets to Jan Rouven, half off drinks at the Le Bistro Bar, one cup of coffee daily at the Pool Side Cafe and a coupon book with a $250 value. Best amenity: Toss up between coffee and comedy tickets.
THE SIGNATURE AT MGM GRAND : $25. Includes: Internet in-room and public areas, fitness loews miami beach hotel center access, unlimited local and 800 calls, in-room coffee and a daily newspaper. Best amenity: Internet in the public areas.
SOUTH POINT : $12.50 . Includes: In-room Wi-Fi, fitness center access, local and toll free in room phone calls, boarding pass printing, airport shuttle (based on availability), 24-hour complimentary parking and a casino funbook.
STRATOSPHERE : $7.50. $12.99 $14.99 . Includes: Admission to the tower during regular operating hours for up to four guests, $19.99 loews miami beach hotel tickets to see Frankie Moreno , 2-for-1 tickets to see PIN UP, access to fitness center, 20 percent discount on select services at the Roni Josef Spa and Salon and a discounted thrill ride pass. Does not include Internet. Best amenity : The discounted tix to see Frankie Moreno.
TREASURE ISLAND : $25. Includes: Internet, fitness center access, 2-for-1 cocktails, 2-for-1 lunch or dinner buffet, daily newspaper, local and toll free phone calls, boarding pass printing, up to 10 pages of copies and faxes and $20 credit for a future stay. (See the breakdown of value here. ) Best Amenity: $20 credit for future stay.
TROPICANA : $19.99. : Includes: Internet, fitness center access, two bottled waters per stay, 50-percent off drinks from Tropicana Bar from 4-6 p.m. daily, local and 800 phone calls, loews miami beach hotel incoming and outgoing faxes and photocopies and boarding pass printing. Best Amenity : 50 percent off drinks daily from 4-6 p.m.
TRUMP : $25. Includes: Internet, fitness center access, $25 credit at the Trump Spa, Shuttle service to the Wynn Las Vegas and Forum Shops, two bottles of water daily, local and toll free phone calls, incoming faxes, boarding pass printing, newspaper delivery, in-room coffee and shoe shine service. Best amenity: Spa discount.
TUSCANY SUITES : $